How to make bathrooms safer for seniors

Maintaining a sense of independence throughout retirement can inspire seniors to live their golden years to the fullest. For many seniors, nothing is more emblematic of their ability to stay independent than remaining in their homes. A number of variables can affect how long seniors stay in their homes, including the layout of the property and any potential safety threats that may arise as men and women age. Some small, safety-centric tweaks to a property can help men and women remain in their homes for as long as possible. · Increase lighting in bathrooms throughout the home. Lighting is easily overlooked as a safety measure, but a well-lit space is easier to navigate. Increasing lighting in the bathroom and upgrading existing features to LED lighting can make it easier for seniors to navigate bathrooms at night. That's a notable benefit, as seniors may need to make routine bathroom trips overnight. · Install grab bars. Grab bars are often found in public restrooms, but they're equally useful in the bathrooms or private homes, particularly in seniors' residences. Grab bars can be installed on both sides of all toilets and in the bathtub/shower stall so seniors can get up and down easily and reinforce their stability on wet surfaces. · Invest in bathroom storage systems. A cluttered bathroom is a potential safety hazard. Items in cluttered bathrooms can easily end up on the floor, and that goes for bathing items like shampoo and soap as well. A bathroom storage system for a vanity and an organizer for bathing items inside a shower or tub can decrease the chance that items end up on the floor, where they can pose an injury risk for seniors who might struggle to bend over to pick them up or slip on fallen items when bathing. · Renovate your existing shower. Seniors whose current bathrooms house a traditional shower setup that requires them to step over a tub can renovate the space and replace that feature with a walk-in shower. A walk-in shower does not require seniors step over a bathtub, greatly reducing the risk of falls while bathing. Some additional shower renovations include installing a bench so seniors can sit down while bathing, ideally while using a hand-held shower head. · Purchase non-slip materials for the bathroom. Non-slip floor mats in a bathroom are essential for anyone, and especially beneficial for seniors. A non-slip vanity storage bin and toothbrush holder also can ensure daily accessories remain accessible. · Elevate toilet heights. Elevating toilet heights in bathrooms throughout the home can make it easier for seniors to sit down and get up when going to the bathroom. Toilets compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are roughly 18 inches taller than standard toilets, which can make a big difference for seniors. These are just a handful of ways seniors can make their bathrooms safer as they aspire to stay in their homes longer.